Staple-tacker.



PATENTED Ammmos.

M. D. PHELAN. I STAPLE TAGKER- Arruonron FILED mule, 190 6,

. s snnmsqssn 2.

, ,wii'msses EATEN'EED APR. 7-, 1908.

M. n. 'PHELA'N'. STAPLE TAGKERJ APPLIOATIQH FILED JULY 16, 1908..

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J i z 2 RAN WK 3 wiizzesses 4 I if f lT D STACMENT OFFICE.

MERTON D. PHELAN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THOMAS G. PLANT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAPLE-TACICER.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

- Application filed. July 16, 1905; Serial No. 326,370.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERTON D. P ELAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn,

' in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Im rovement in Staple-Tackers, of which the ollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. 7

' My invention relates to metallic fastening "machines, more particularly to such as form and drive staples from a continuous strip of metal or wire.

Machines of this ty e in common use are usually provided wit staple forming and driving mechanism, cutting mechanism and feeding mechanism, the latter operating to feed the end of a continuous strip of metal or Wire toward the cutting and staple forming and driving mechanisms, the cuttermechanism operating to cut desired lengths from the infed end of wire and center them'over the anvil of the formin mechanism upon which the are bent and s a ed into required form an then driven into t e work. I

- If the feeding mechanism fails uniformly to feed the desired wire lengths, it is clear that the fasteners made therefrom will lack uniformit and as heretofore generally constructed t e feedin mechanism for machines of this type have een provided with pawl and rate et wheel feeds which through the outgrowth of many ears of development have nevertheless fai ed to furnish reliable and uniform results.

My invention aims to rovide a novel feeding mechanism of simp e construction and operation that secures a uniform and pos1-.

tlve feed of the strip from which the fasteners are to be made.

My invention also contemplates novel adjusting means for varying the position of the forming mechanism relative to the cutting mechanism and for correspondingly adjust ing the feeding movement thereby to the length of the staples.

The above, with other features and-objects -"of my invention-will be best understood and appreciated from a description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of Qillustra'tion and shown in the accompanying drawings, the scope of the invention being more'particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

55 Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention in a sta le forming and driving machine selected for lllustration, the base or lower part of the column being removed; Fig. 2 1s a transverse vertical section taken through the stud that sup orts the movable head or carrier in which t e staple forming and driving mechanism is mounted; and, Fig. 3, a transverse, horizontal section taken on the line 3,-3, Fig. 2. r

The fastener or staple formin and driving mechanism generally -Ina be 0 an suitable or desired construction, ence in t e following description I shall merely refer in outline to the rinci al parts of such a mechanism selecte for i ustration herein and shown in the drawings but will not enter into any minute description thereof.

The column'l is of suitable shape and construction to support the working parts and is provided at its u per end with a head or frame, 2, on whicli'is a movable carrier, 3, for the staple driving and forming mechanism. This head at the opposite side thereof, is also provided with a horizontal bracket, 4, which supports the slidingfeeding block, 5, a stationary lower cutter, 6, and its cooperating vei tically movable upper cutter, 7, said cutters" "being positioner between said feed block and the carrier 3. Said head frame, 2, is further provided with suitable bearings for a horizontal drive shaft, 8, adapted to be rotated when desired by a suitable drive pulley, 9, mounted on its rear end, and to oplerate the several mechanisms referred to. T e movable carrier or head, 3, referred to at the right sideof the frame, in the present instance, is slidably mounted on horizontal studs, 10, tapped into said frame. This arrangement permits the staple forming and driving mechanism thereon to be moved towards the cutting and feeding mechanisms, referred to, and mounted on the frame so that staples may be formed of different lengths as is customary in machines of this type. its front this carrier or-head, 3, is provided (see Fig. 3) with a vertical groove or guide Way, 11, in which the staple forming and drivingmechanisms proper are carried and which comprise the vertically reciprocating 105 cable anvil member, 14 (Fig. 2), having at its 110 front end the anvil proper, 15 (Fig. 1), over which the stapleblanks are bent or shaped; and the driver bar, 16 (Figs. 1 and 3), the lower end of which is provided with a suitable driver, (not shown) adapted to drive staples through the throat, 17, of the machine into the work held up against it.

For vertically reciprocating the staple former, 12, to cause it to bend or shape the staple blank over the anvil, 15, below it, any suitable means may be employed, that herein shown comprising a bell crank, 18 (see Figs. 1 and 3), fulcrumed at 19 to said frame,

2, the front forked end of which enga es a stud, 21 (Figs. 1 and 3), projecting norizontally from the right side of said former, the rear vertical arm of said bell crank carrying usual roller or other stud, 22 (see dotted lines Fig. 2), which is actuated by a cam, 23, on said drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft and said cam oscillates said bell crank and alternately depresses and elevates the staple former connected therewith. The forked end of the lever, 18, by its engagement with the stud, 21, also permits adjustment of the carrier or head, 3, toward or from the cutting and feeding mechanisms referred to without interfering with the operation of said staple former. For reciprocating the anvil member, 14, to project its anvil, 15, forward beneath the staple former, 12, and to withdraw it to permit the staple to be driven down past it by the staple driver, the rear end of said anvil member, in the present instance, is connected with another bell crank, 24 (Fig. 3), fulcrumed at 25 to said frame, its re ar vertical arm carrying the usual roller (not shown) operated by a shaft'cam (not she 'n) in the usual manner.

The driver bar, 16 (Figs. 1 and 3) is mounted to slide in a vertical groove or guide way,

26, formed in the back of said former, 12, the latter as stated mounted in the guide way, 11, referred to, and retained therein by a 'suitable facdplate, 27 (Figs. 1 and 3), secured to the front face of said carrier. At its upper end said driver bar 1 6, is slidably connected by means of a horizontal dove-tailed projection, 28, with a transverse groove of converse shape in the lower end of an slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation in a fixed guide way, 30, at the upper front portion of the frame head, 2. This arrangement permits the carrier and its driver bar to be moved or adjusted laterally with and to follow adjustn'ient of the former without losing its driving engagement with the driver actuator bar, 29,

adjusting means for varying its tension, whereby the actuator and driver may be operated to drive the latter with desired force. This adjusting means comprises a handle op erated ratchet wheel, 35 (Fig. 1), to which the fixed end of said s ring is attached and a spring actuated pawl? 36, rotation of the ratchet by its handle causing said pawl, 36,

to engage one or another of its teeth and move the normally fixed end of said spring to tension the same, and thereby varythe force exerted by its opposite end upon said arm. The arm, 32, is raised and held elevated against the tension of said spring by a cam, 37, on the front end of the drive shaft, 8, the foot of said actuating bar extending rearwardly into the path of said cam to be lifted thereby and retained in elevated position until the high part of the cam rotates or passes from under it when the driver is sharply driven down by theaction of said spring.

To provide suitable means for adjusting vided at its rear with an upwardly extended ear, 40 (Fig. 2), in which is rotatably or adjustably mounted a stud or bushing, 41, carrying ccentrieally a stud or pin, 42, on the end of an arm, 43. This arm is pivotally connected by a link, 44, (Figs. 2 and 3), with a depending arm, 45, of a horizontal adjusting lever, 46, fulcrumed upon astud 47 (Figs. 1 and 3), mounted in a laterally extended arm, 87, of said frame, 2. By swinging this lever vertically the link, 44, connected to its depending arm and to the said head, 3, is swung in and out, moving said head with it, so that the latter may be moved to any desired position relative to the cutting and feeding mechanisms to position the anvil, 15, at such point under and between the ends of the straight wire blank fed thereon as will cause the ends of said blank when folded or formed down over said anvil to produce a staple, the legs of which are of desired relative length. To facilitate turning the stud or bushing, 41, in its bearings for the purpose of adjustingthe position .of the carrier relative to its lever, 46, its .outer front end is provided with a hexagonal head to which a wrench or key may be applied for adjusting purposes. The front end of said eccentric pin, 42, is threaded to receive a clamping nut, 48 (Fig. 3), by which the said position after angular adjustment relative to said lever, 46, or the bushing, 41, which also provides for adjusting the carrier, as described, independently of that effected by the adjustment of said bushing. The operation of this part of the mechanism, however, and also that said lever, 46, will be best understood after produced by the adjustment of.

arm may be clamped in any desired staple legs, the cutting edges of the cutters.

the description of the feeding and cutting mechanism has been given.

The vertical arm of this bell crank is 'rovided with a roller or other stud actuate by a cam (not shown) on said shaft, 8. This cam is a face cam and its lever is held against it by'a coil spring, 60 (Figs. 1 and 2), connecting its horizontal arm with a point on said frame adjacent the front bearings of the drive shaft.

To provide for pointing the ends ofthe are ositloned at an angle to the path of the stap e strip or wire, so that a diagonal cut is produced across the ends of the strip. The

. cutters are adjustably mounted and held in desired position by bolts, 61, and'may be adjusted to compensate for Wear or to meet the requirements of the work, for instance in using strips or wire of. different dimensions.

I will. next describe the novel feeding mechanism, which I have provided to 006 erate with the foregoing or any other stap e forming and driving mechanismand in which the variations in feed movement is roduced by the adjustment of said adjusting hand lever, 46. invention (see Fig. 2) this feedingmechanism com rises the feed block, 5, referred to,

whic is slidably mounted in horizontal guide ways, 62, on said bracket, 4, and a feed pawl, 63, best shown in Fig. 2, fast on a horizontal pin or shaft, 64, mounted in vertical ears'of said block, 5. This block is normally retained in outer osition b a coil spring, 66, connecting sair feed bloc with a vertical pin on said bracket and acting to draw the block towards it. The block is also provided with suitable enduides, 67, beneath which the wire or meta strip. to be fed is placed, and which is thereby guided upon the upper face of said block, toward which the pawl is swung to grip the wire firmly against the block and move the same toward said cutters, 6 and 7. To operate this feeding device, as herein, the pawlcarrying pin, 64, is provided at its rear end with a depending arm, 68 (Fig. 2), connected by a lin 69, with the lower end of a vertical actuating lever, 70, fulcrumed at 71 on a lug or arm, 71, of said frame 2. At its upper end this actuating lever is connected by a link, 72, with a slide or block, 73, the sides of which embrace a curved tail iece or arm, 74, of a cam yoke or lever, 75 ig. 2), pivoted on a horizontal the cutting ered blank u on the anvil 15.

spring, 79, seated behind it and a adjustable screw plug, 79", threade In the present embodiment of my stud, 75, tapped into the front of said frame, 2. The arms of this yoke embrace a cam, 76, of approgrimate trian ular shape, eccentricall'y mounted on the ate connections causes said ripping pawl, 63, to swim inwardly to grip t e wire resting on said feed block and press it firmly against said-block and by its further movement slide said block and the clamped wire'inwardly together to feed the wire the desired distance to bring t e center of the subse uently sevn a return movement 0 the feed block the feed pawl swings outwardl free from the wire and permits the said b ock to slide along the wire- V out end of said drive shaft, 8, rotation of which oscillates said lever, and through the intermediinto position for a new gripreparatory to a succeeding feed. As here s own, the oke armsar'e provided with the usual wear p ates adjustably mounted thereon, so that they may beadjusted to compensate for wear. That said feed block, 5, may be positively returned outwardly to its normal position without placing reliance therefor upon the retracting spring, 66, the lower arm of the oscillatory actuator lever is providedwith a depending fi'n er, 7 7 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted to engage wit a spring pressed pin, 78 (see Figs. 2 and 3), socketed at the rear side of the feed block andnormally supported by a coil ainst an into the bottom or outer end of said socket. In the operation of the machine, the outward swing of the lower arm of said actuating lever, to the left (Fig. 2), causes said fin er, 77,

to strike said spring pressed pin, pusihing it to the left, com ressing its sprin and thereby positively sliding the block before it in case the retracting s ring, 66, has not already returned said b ock. The fin er may or ma not be caused to enga e t e slide block itself as it pushes the pin ome before it, that being regulated by the adjustment of said spring, 79, by its screw plug. By this arrangement the movements of the feed block are positive in both directions and to prevent vibrations and loose action of the connected parts, the bottom of the guide way, 62, is provided with a, spring pressed friction washer, 80 (Fi 2) held elevated by a coil spring, 81, seater below 1t upon a vertically adjustable screw plug, 82.

Between the feed pawl and the cutter I have arranged a spring pressed over-hanging back stop pawl, 50 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is pivoted on a lug, 51, of said bracket, 4, and operates to prevent retraction of the wire during the outward or return slide of-the feeding block but permits in-feeding of said wire or strip. This lug, 51, is also provided with a spring, 52, the tension of which may v53, mounted therein by which the pressure of said pawl, 50, against the wire may be vathat movements of the adjusting lever, 46,

do not move the cam yoke or lever, 75, or

the normalposition of the feeding block, 5, and its wire gripping pawl, 65. The curve of the tail piece or depending arm of the yoke,

75, has its center of curvature at the pivot connection of the link, 72, with the actuator lever, 70, so that adjustment of the slide or block, 73,.on said tail piece does not operate .lation of said yoke. (see Fig. 3), is provided with an inwardly to move said actuator lever, 70, or the feed block, 5, connected therewith, but changes merely, the effective radial length of said tail piece and thereby the length of movement imparted to the roadblock by a fixed oscil- This slide block, 73

projecting removable member, 84, received in a longitudinal groove, 85, in the outer curved face of said tail piece or arm, 74, so as to prevent displacement of said block and to permit of its removal upon removing said member, 84. For elevating or'depressing the adjustable slide block on said tailpiece to vary theefiective-length of the latter as stated, said block is connectedby a link, 86, with the inner end of said horizontaladjustr. ing lever,--46, elevation or depression of said and moving said link and the block connecte'd therewith toward or from the yoke as de-' sired. It will now be a parent that by the movement of this lever 0th the position of .the staple forming and driving mechanism maybe movedtoward and from the cutting mechanism and the feed movement may be adjusted to correspond, so that .the anvil, 15, is centered or positioned intermediate the infed end of said strip or wire and .the stationary cutter, 6.

A .As the slide block, 73, in the yoke lever,

75, is moved toward and from the fulcrum by thedepression or elevation ol the adjusting leve 46, the arc of oscillation of said block and the feeding movement of the wire are diminished or increased accordingly, so

that the feeding movement of the wire or metal strip employed is always substantially twice/the length of the staple desired, the

distance between theanvil and cutters being substantially halfsueh length. if, ior'.ex amplru-the anvil isflmoved 1/16 toward or from, l.lui -ruttcr,-it;is obvious that the feed ing movement should be respectively vdecreased or increased by 1' /8 and the arrange ment is such'as to always produce such proportionate adjustment, so that the anvil will always be inithemienter of the severed blank ,eea.

By adjusting the bushing, 41, in its hearing or by turning the eccentric pin arm, 43, 7

therein, any desired inequality in the length of the staples may be secured since this adjustment does not move the slide block, 73. Furthermore, this arrangement permits maintaining any desired inequality in the lengths of staple legs with all sizes of sta les or to vary it, as desired. NVhen it is desired to use staples having legs of unequal len ths, the nut, 48, may be unscrewed slightly, sullicient to permit turning the arm, 43, and its pin, 42, in said bushing, 41, which, since the depending arm of the lever remains stationary, will throw the movable carrier, 31, inward or outward as may be desired. Furthermore the bushing or stud, 41, may also be turnedin its bearing to vary the position -.of said pin, 42, relative to the head, 3, these which the anvil is withdrawn and the driver bar sprung down to insert or drive the staple ,thus formed. i I

That the adjusting lever may be held in a predetermined position to producestaples of desired lengths, thehorizontal frame arm, 87, upon which the lever is fulcrumed, is provided with a segmental ortion, 38 (Fig. 2), which supports a pair of arc sha ed vertical guides, 89 (Figs. 2 and 3), etween which the outer arm of saidlever moves. The outer curved sides oftheseguides are provided \with V-shaped notches, 90, corresponding to the length of staples desired, and to the corresponding amount of feed required, and opposite which said lever must be moved to produce staples of that length. For holding the adjusting lever in the de sired position its outer end is providedwith a transverse slot in which isslidably mounted a latch member, 91 (F 3) extending through and slidably mounted insaid'slets,

with its inner end in engagement with said notches. Thefouterend of this adjusting lever, 46, is formed as a tubular handle, 93,

the application of sufficient power to the handle end of the lever, the wedge action produced between the pawl and said notches orces the latch outwardly against the tension of said spring, 99, so that the lever can be moved from notch to notch as desired, the

latch entering into and being forced out of each notch in turn. Obviously the adjustment of the screw lug, 95, permits adjustment of the tension 0 said spring, 94, to vary the force re uired to move said handle and its lever.

hatthe adjusting lever may be stopped opposite any esire notch to produce the required length of staples and also to adjust the 'feed mechanism correspondingly, a pair of adjustable stop screws, 96, are provided which are mounted in suitable horizontal arms, 97, secured to said segmental ortion, 88, one of these stops being positione' above, the other below said lever, each of which may be moved in and out to limit the'vertical movements of the lever. By this arrangemehtfihe adjusting lever may be rapidly moved from one position to another, which is ofifipecial valuewhen but .two lengths of staple! are employed since it saves considerable ;ime. The stri fromfjvhich the step es are formed may be carried in any convenient manner, for example, upon a reel, 99, mounted upon a suit-" able arm, 100, secured to said frame, 2.

In practice, the machine operates as follows: The strip of metal or wire being brought down from the reel is inserted through the guides in the feedblock 5, and under the eed pawl, 50, of the inner guide way and to and ever the anvil. The r ive shaft being .then' rotated, the oscillations of the cam yoke through its connections with the wire grippin pawl, 63, causesit to clamp-the wire against, the feed block, 5, and slide it inward for-feedin after which it is retracted by its spring or by the action of the said finger, 77, as described. Immediately following the in-feeding movement of the wire the movable cutter is depressed .to sever a length from the end of said wire or strip and to point its end in the manner described, immediately following which the staple former descends and bends the severed length over the anvil, 15, while the groove-in its back shapes it into desired staple form. Simultaneously with until subsequently rotated from beneath it' during which time the anvil, 15, is w1th-' these'movements the 'cam, 37, on the drive shaft engages and lifts the foot of the actuator member and holds it in elevated position drawn by the action of its bell crank and the cam controllin its movements; Si ultaneouslyor immer iately following the wlthdrawal of the anvil, the cam, 37, releases the foot of the driver bar and permits it to be driven sharply down by the operating spring,

and cause its driver to engage the staple as of metal or wire, 98,.

it is released by the anvil and drive it through the throat, 17, into the work held up against the same. To adjust the length of staples to another length the adjusting lever is' forcibly elevated or depressed to bring its latch number into engagement with a notch corres onding to the length of sta le require and also to vary the feed of t a wire proportionately to produce such staple, the screw sto s being adjusted when desired to cause the atch to engage any of said notches, so that it is not necessary to determine which notch is the one desired.

My invention provides a machine that is certain ,in action or o eration, the feedi mechanism always producing a uniform fee for the desired adjustment and one that does not vary with different speeds of operation, thereby avoiding the ob ectionable and unreliable ratchet pawl and shield or equivalent mechanisms hitherto commonly emplo ed in machines of this type, the present fee ing mechanism being extremely simple in construction and operation. The adjusting mechanism for the feed is also positive an produces a uniform result. The novel and positive feeding mechanism, its adjusting mechanism, with that for-adjusting in'de-f 'pendently the carrier to provide for inequalities in the len ths of staple legs, are each and all, so far as am aware, ori inal with me.

While in the particular em odiment of my invention as heriin described, the novel feeding mechanism has been shown in con-,

nection with staple forming and driving mechanism, obviously my invention is not limited thereto, being equally suitable for use with any machine in which a continuous wire or strip of metal is fed to fastener forming or driving mechanisms.

sub'ect matter-expressed in the claims of the app ication of Perley R. Glass, Patent No. 871,991, same is not of my invention. I

The construction and operation of a single do not desire to claim herein the broad dated November 26, 1907, as the illustrative embodiment of my invention Y ,having been fully-described, and it being obvious that the invention is not limited to the particular form and arrangement of the several parts, but may be variously modified without departing from its spirit or scope,if=f v Y I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent: e.

1. In a metallic fastener machine, the com bination of a'movable carrier 3, staple formand driving means carried thereby,.a wirefeeding block 5, a lever 70 fo1 reciprocating said block, a yoke 75 havln a tail? iece ing 74, a block 73 slidably mounts on sai" tail piece and operatively joined tosaid lever 70, an adjusting lever 46, and connections be: tween the adjusting lever 46, the carrier 3, and block'73 for simultaneously adjusting said carrier and block. 4

2'. In a machine of the type described, the combination of cutting mechanism, a head or carrier provided with sta le forming inech anism' and movable llOWttlWi dnd from said cutting mechanism, with a lever and connections for adjusting said head or carrier, comprising a stud or bushing mounted in said. head. a pin' eecentrically mounted therein and provided with an arm, and means for connecting said arm with said lever whereby elevation or depression of the latter moves said carrier respectively from or toward said cutting mechanism.

3. In a machine of the type described the combination of cutting mechanism. a head adjustable toward and from said cutting mechanism having an adjusting lever and connections for moving the same, said\con nections comprising the bushing, 41; the lever 43, having a pin 43, eccentric-ally and pivotally mounted on said bushing, 41, said bushing being rotatably mounted in said head and adapted to be turned to vary the position of saic pin relative to said head to adjust the latter independently of said adjusting lever.

4. In a machine of the type described, cutting mechanism, a carrier or head provided with staple forming mechanism adjustable toward and from said cutting mechanism, a lever and connections for adjusting the same, said connections comprising a crank arm pivotally mounted in said head, with means for connecting it with said lever and for clamping it in adjusted position, whereby the adjustment of said head may be effected independently of the adjustment of said lever.

5. In a machine of the type described, the combination of wire feeding means, cutting means,- staple forming means, and lever means for simultaneously adjusting said staple forming means and varying the feed of said feeding means to produce staples of different lengths, and eccentric means for variably positioning said staple forming means to vary the length of the staple legs.

(3. In a machine of the type described, cutl ting i'nechanisln, fastening melans, feeding mechanism, means for adjusting the position of said fastening means relatively to said cutting mechanism, and correspondingly to vary the feed of said feeding mechanism for producing fastening-s of desired length, and eccentric means to adjust said forming means relatively to said adjustirg means.

7. In a machine of the type described, cutting mechanism, staple forming means, means for adjusting the lattertoward and from said cutting mechanism for varying the length of staples and eccentric means to ad just said staple forming.meansrelatively to its adjusting means to produce staples having legs of unequal len th.

8. In a machine of the typedescribed, the combination of reciprocatory feeding means and wire severing mechanism, an actuator for said feeding means com )rising a yoke having a tail piece and a lock slidingly mounted on said tail piece with fastening forming means an actuator therefor, connections intermediate the actuator and fastener forming means constructed and arranged to permit lateral movement of the fastener forming means, and a lever for adjusting the fastening forming means towards the posispondingly to vary the relation of the yoke and sliding block of the reciproeatory feeding means for varying a dimension of said fas toning.

9. In a machine of the type described a carrier provided with fastening forming mechanism, cutting mechanism, means for adjusting the position of said carrier relative to said cutting mechanism, and means connected with said carrier for varying the adj ustment produced l )y-said"adjusting. means.

In tcstnnony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

MERQON T). PHELAN.

Witnesses:

' liomm'r II. 'KAMMLER,

SmNnY F. SMrrn.

tion of said severing mechanism and corre- 

